Lagos-based estate professionals call minister’s appointment ‘a disservice to the nation’

Over a month after Bababtunde Raji Fashola was appointed as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Lagos-based real estate professionals are still upset.

According to Vanguard, these experts are upset over two things; President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to appoint Fashola’s as the minister, instead of one of their own, and the merge of three key ministries, Power, Works and Housing, into one.

READ: President Buhari allocates N433.4 billion for housing, more

Mr. Samuel Ukpong, the Chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), said this and more.

Speaking on behalf of others, he commended the President on the ministerial appointments, before revealing the experts’ grievances with the President’s choice.

“We want to join in giving kudos but with a caveat. The President has not done very well to merge the ministries together especially the ministry of housing with works and power. It is a disservice to the nation and we want to hold an opinion that it is not proper.

Thirty (30) years ago when the president was in government, the population of Nigeria was about 90 million. Right now, we are in the region of 170 million, we also have a housing deficit of 17 million which means it is a very serious matter. So, putting the three major sectors of the nation’s economy in the purview of just one person is not right. Nigeria as a country is expanding, responsibilities need to be given to the people. Now another thing that worries us about that appointment is that someone from the built environment was not even appointed.

So, why are we not putting round pegs in round hole. I cannot remember the last time an estate surveyor was made a minister in this country. but I discovered we have minister of water resources and you know every activity starts on land. Why don’t we have someone from the real estate sector, someone who understands the nitty-gritty of the environment as a minister.”

READ: Fashola unveils plan to solve Nigeria's 17 million housing need

Do you think the President made a mistake in merging three key ministries?